1. MSI: A strategic opportunity for research (academia) - private sector/industry linkages A presentation at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual meeting, Chicago, 12th-16th February 2009 By Dr. Maxwell Otim Onapa Uganda National Council for Science and Technology

2. New partnerships for Science in the cradle of humanity 7 Million Years of Hominid Evolution The National Geographic Society/ IBM Genographic Project 2005 – 2010 Preliminary Results from Recent Global DNA Analysis Bob Citron, June 2008 160,000 Years of Human Migrations

3. Background Uganda achieved recognizable economic growth in the early 1990s Uganda achieved recognizable economic growth in the early 1990s A fall registered in mid 2000 A fall registered in mid 2000 Population growth rate 3.4% per year Population growth rate 3.4% per year To attain a middle-income status economic growth must average 7% …….BUT……. …….BUT…….

4. Challenges Low tech inefficient production Low tech inefficient production Agric accounts for 34.3% GDP and employs more than 2/3 of the population Agric accounts for 34.3% GDP and employs more than 2/3 of the population Poor environment for the establishment of competitive industries Poor environment for the establishment of competitive industries Increased productivity and private-sector led growth requires more and better use of knowledge in an improved investment climate ……..Consequently…………

5. Sector issues Government giving specific attention to raising productivity and output in the industrial and service sectors of the economy Government giving specific attention to raising productivity and output in the industrial and service sectors of the economy However, poor skills of available workers – major constraint Policy concern: Raising education levels in firms and increasing exposure to modern tech and management practices

6. Key Sector issues Institutional capacity and cooperation has been weak Institutional capacity and cooperation has been weak Low technology acquisition and little “technology learning” within firms Low technology acquisition and little “technology learning” within firms Relevance of Tertiary education- stagnant S&T enrollment Relevance of Tertiary education- stagnant S&T enrollment Quality of tertiary education and advanced training Quality of tertiary education and advanced training Connection to Global Knowledge and Local labour markets Connection to Global Knowledge and Local labour markets

7. Government interventions Government strategy for STI Increased investment in industrialization, R&D and relevant technology areas Increased investment in industrialization, R&D and relevant technology areas Improving science education at secondary level Improving science education at secondary level Promoting greater academic enrolment in S&T and economic priority areas Promoting greater academic enrolment in S&T and economic priority areas Policy initiatives to support tech transfer and commercialization of innovation, Industrial and innovation fund Policy initiatives to support tech transfer and commercialization of innovation, Industrial and innovation fund Streamlining agricultural research Streamlining agricultural research

8. Support – Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) World Bank involvement A major development partner Intervention addresses human development, productivity and growth issues Intervention addresses human development, productivity and growth issues Bank’s intensive involvement in private sector development Bank’s intensive involvement in private sector development

9. Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) Funding facility: provides a competitively-awarded grants through 3 different windows Window A: A1:funds research groups led by a senior investigator A2: funds research groups led by emerging investigator A2: funds research groups led by emerging investigator

10. Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) Window B: B1:funds the creation of undergraduate programs in basic sciences and engineering B2:funds for upgrading existing degree programs in basic sciences and engineering

11. Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) Window C: Main objective: To give firms greater access to new or existing technologies and involve academia/research institutions in addressing industry problems Expected to promote growth of firms and accelerate transition to a more S&T driven economy Funds to support private sector cooperation (i) “Technology platform” for firms and researchers Mode 1 Mode 2 (ii) Formal firm-based internships for students in science, engineering and business administration

12. Window C: Implementation Uganda National council for Science and Technology (UNCST) Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) Initial strategy: Raising awareness Linking the academia and industry Using platforms

13. Research-academia-industry linkages Proposals jointly developed by researcher and industry Proposals jointly developed by researcher and industry Reviewed by the sub-committee of the MSI Technical committee Reviewed by the sub-committee of the MSI Technical committee

14. Research-academia-industry linkages Technology platform Forum that seeks to: Define a set of technological problems facing firms to which research or consultation could provide solution Define a set of technological problems facing firms to which research or consultation could provide solution Identify and evaluate technologies that exist outside Uganda and could be profitably transferred for domestic use Identify and evaluate technologies that exist outside Uganda and could be profitably transferred for domestic use Carry out collaborative R&D on issues identified Carry out collaborative R&D on issues identified

15. Research-academia-industry linkages Mode 1 Funds cooperative evaluation of technologies and the definition of shared R&D problems confronting partners in the platform Mode 2 Funds mode 1 grantees to carry out the R&D agenda developed in mode 1 as a collaboration – firms and university/research institution partners

16. So far….. 1.Makerere University: participatory research for rural dairy development using the pubic private partnership approach 1.Makerere University: participatory research for rural dairy development using the pubic private partnership approachPartners: Makerere University - University Makerere University - University Sugar industry – private firm Sugar industry – private firm Dairy development authority – government agency Dairy development authority – government agency Dairy farmers – private farmers Dairy farmers – private farmers Tool for enhancing synergies for development research and rural development Sugar molasses

17. So far 2.Evaluation of industrial and edible salt processing technology at Lake Katwe Partners: JDG Africa limited – private sector firm JDG Africa limited – private sector firm Mabarara University – University Mabarara University – University 3.Three Additional projects

18. Challenges A.GENERAL Weak Private sector base Inadequate capacity (technical, financial and research facilities) Inadequate capacity (technical, financial and research facilities) MNCs conduct research at their parent companies MNCs conduct research at their parent companies Local firms with research agenda- mainly agriculture based Local firms with research agenda- mainly agriculture based Sugar cooperation Sugar cooperation Tea estates Tea estates Edible oil Edible oil B.RESEARCHER/ACADEMIA Paradigm challenge Sugarcane plantation

19. Challenges C. PRIVATE SECTOR i. Desire for immediate returns on research investments ii. Research-academia cooperation iii. Low level of appreciation of the role of research  Skepticism about the role of researchers  Lack of investment in research  low appreciation of exogenous intellectual input iii. importance of investments in research iv. Old legacy - Higher expectations - public research funds

20. Way forward Continuous engagements with academia and industry Continuous engagements with academia and industry De-layering and retooling De-layering and retooling Active involvement of the private sector Active involvement of the private sector Leveraging more resources Leveraging more resources

21. Can we achieve viable partnerships between universities/academia and the private sector?

22. Yes we can!

23. AKNOWLEDGEMENTS SCIENCE INITIATIVE GROUP(SIG) Arlen Hastings

24. Thank you for your kind attention